Elastic retaining band



y 9, 34 E. P. BLAIR 1,960,690

ELASTIC RETAINING BAND Filed April 20. 1933 Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES '7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in elastic retaining bands having means for securing thereto indicating members or cards.

The object is to provide improved means especially adapted for holding together a bundle of papers or documents and having associated therewith removable means for indicating said documents or pertinent information relating thereto.

A further object is to provide an extremely simple and convenient device for securing different sized bundles, and for providing the necessary indicia in respect thereto.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates merely by way of example, suitable embodiments of the invention Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my invention in its simplest form.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the band as applied to a bundle of documents and with the indicating card in place.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a modification.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4, 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of another modification.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the specific example shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the endless band 7 is an integral body of elastic material, the main portion or extension of which is of ordinary rubber band width. This band is provided, as to part of its extension, with the enlargements 8 ard 9, that is, the band is widened to form said enlargements.

35 The enlargement 8 is provided with longitudinally extending parallel slots 10, while the enlargement 9 is shown as having the transverse parallel slots 11. Through these slots the ends, of an indicating card or body 12, are inserted as shown in Fig. 2. The longitudinally extending slots are usually preferable in this form of band, since the stretching of the band does not tend to dislodge the card.

These slots are readily formed simply by cutting slits in the band. The band being of elastic material, such as rubber, the margins of the slits exert effective resilient frictional engagement with the indicating member, so that accidental dislodgment is prevented. I

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the enlargement is either of double thickness or of twoply material with a window opening 13 in the upper ply, or in the upper half of said thickness, with the frame formed by the two longitudinal extensions 14, and the transverse extensions 15.

The extensions 15 are integral with or secured to the underlying portion of the band, while the intermediate portions 15 are separated therefrom to form slots or passages for the ends 12 of the card 12; while the inner margins of extensions 14 69 provide marginal guides for the card.

The card 12 is preferably of sufiicient length to provide projections 12 to facilitate handling the same.

A further modification is shown in Fig. 5 in which the band with the card retaining means are moulded in one operation, in which the ridges 16 are formed transversely of the band and provided with the slots 17 for receiving the end 12 of card 12. In this case the portion 18 of the 7 band between the ridges is preferably increased in thickness, which reduces the tendency of the ridges to separate sufficiently to disengage the card when the band is stretched.

The band may be provided with two such indicia holders as indicated in Fig. 1, in order to contain indexes or indicia directed to different subject-matter as hereinafter described.

I have found that by making the band and the card holding means an integral structure, I secure an extremely simple and eificient device at minimum expense.

The point or essence of the invention is that the elastic retaining bandcontains in itself efficient means for disengageably securing an indicating card or similar device.

In operation In accordance with the several embodiments illustrated, the band is adapted for securing together a number of documents, such as leases, insurance policies, or the like relating for example to the same properties. The list of leases may be recorded on one indicating card, while the insurance policies may be indicated on the other. These cards are then secured to the band in the manner described, and the contents of the bundle are always clearly indicated.

As stated above, with the parallel slots arranged longitudinally as, on the upper side, in Figs. 1 and 2, the stretching of the band does not tend to dislodge the card.

In accordance with the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 5, when the band is stretched to surround 105 the bundle of documents 15, the major stretching will be in the narrower or thinner part of the band extension. Whatever stretching takes place in the enlargement is insufiicient to dislodge the card.

What I claim 'is{ 1. An elastic retaining band and an indicating member removably associated therewith, the band having an enlarged portion provided with slots spaced apart for receiving the ends of the indicating member.

2. An elastic band having a portion of its extension wider than its main extension, with means integral therewith for disengageably securing an indicating card.

3. An elastic band having in its extension an enlargement, as to width, with means formed on the surface of said enlargement for disengageably securing an indicating card.

4. An elastic retaining band having a portion of its outer extension of an increased dimension with integral means for disengageably securing an indicating card, with an indicating card asso'- ciated therewith.

5. An elastic retaining band having upon a portion of its outer surface an integral enlargement provided with card receiving slots.

6. In combination with a removable indicating member, an elastic band having a two-ply enlargement as to part of its extension, one ply provided with a window opening, said plies secured at such parts about said opening as to provide a passage for the indicating member.

7. An elastic band having an enlargement as to part of its extension and provided with integral parallel ridges adjacent the end margins of said enlargement having card receiving channels associated therewith.

' EDWIN P. BLAIR. 

